DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after four men stormed the building at around 4.30pm on January 23.

Minutes earlier a silver Mercedes was seen parked in a disabled bay near the bank and, as staff were closing up for the day, three men wearing hoods and dark coloured clothing jumped out of the car and forced their way into the bank.

They threatened staff and a few remaining customers with a machete, a sledge hammer and what was believed to be a handgun, before forcing their way into the cashier area.

They stole a quantity of cash and ran out of the bank before fleeing in the Mercedes, driven by the fourth man. The car had been stolen from an address in Cheetham Hill on January 28 and was last seen driving along Wood Lane towards the Asherton Arms pub.

The first man is described as white, around 25-years-old, 6ft tall and of slim build. He wore a blue and white hat with a white ring around it, a black jacket and trousers. The driver is described as a white man, around 30-years-old, unshaven and wearing a black hat and a black top.

Anyone with any further information on this incident is asked to contact Rochdale Robbery Unit on 0161 856 4688 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.